Pressure-equalizer.



No. 852,150. v PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

P. B. WHITNEY. PRESSURE EQUALIZER.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 11, 1907.

iii'I UNITED snares PATENT ,orrron'.

FRANK E. WHITNEY, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRESSURE-EQUALIZER.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed anuary 11, 1907. Serial No" 351.770.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,FRANK E. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure-Equalizers, of which the follow m is a full, clear, and exact description.

n the operation of gas engines, it is customary to introduce a rubber bag as a section Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a building containing a gas engine provided with my improved pressure equalizer in its simplest form. Fig. 2-

a central sectional elevation of my pressure equalizer in its preferred construction. Fig 3 is a side elevation of the same.

The gas engine 1, which is shown as located within a building 2, is supplied with,

gas-through a pi e 3; and formed as a portion of said pipe is t e equalizer 10. In its simplest form, this equalizer comprises an approximately semi-spherical chamber 11*; a-

rubber diaphragm 12,- and a curved guard 13; both the guard and chamber being formed with suitable flanges 14 between which to clamp the edge of said diaphragm. From the space inclosed between said guard and diaphragm opens a pipe 15 extending through to some point exterior to said build-' mg; such point as illustrated in Fig. 1 being the roof.

As the gas flows through the chamber 11 on its way to the engine, its pressure forces the diaphragm to expand to a greater or less extent; and this ex ansion is increased or diminished in-accor ance with the fluctuations caused'in suchfpressure by the intermittent actuations o the engine. .Should, now, any slight pprforation form through the diaphragm 12, t e gas escaping through the same passes into the space between the guard and diaphragm, and t ence through the pipe 15 to the atmosphere without the'structure.

Further, should through any imperfections in manufacture, the diaphragm tear wholly throu h, the outpouring gas would simply pass through the pipe 15 outside the building and do no harm. The pipe 15 being substantially smaller than the conduit 3,' only enough gas would flow through the former to indicate something was wrong by a slowing down of .the engine,but not necessarily to wholly stop it. Incase the nature of the work being performed by the engine preeluded a stoppage for repairs, the valve 16 in the pipe 15 is closed, and the engine enabled to continue its operation. As soon as closing time arrived, the gas can be shut off from the pipe 3; the guard l3unbo lted; the old dia-,

phragm removed, and a new one substituted. Then the valve 16 can be opened, the gas turned on, and the engine is ready for its task.

My preferred construction, that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, consists simply in haying the chamber 11 cylindrical, With a diaphragm 12 and guard 13 at both top and bottom, and the pipe 15 formed with branches opening into both guard-spaces. By thus doubling the area of the diaphragm, the entire device may be made smaller for the same degree of equalizing ca acity. Another advantage conslsts in the act that should either diaphragm rupture, the particular valve 16 or 16 belonging-thereto can be closed, and the other diaphragm perform the work until op portunit y for repairs arrives.

, By havin the curvature of the guards 13 such that on ythe maximum ressure liable to 9 5 occur in the gas-main is capa le of expanding the diaphragms into contact therewith, such diaphragms are effectually prevented from receivin any excessive strains should such ordinariy maximum pressure be for any cause suddenly exceeded. Hence the diaphragms are shielded against rupture from such cause.

I have found it an exceedingly expensive matter to manufacture, and also to fit in place, the spherical gas has now in use for the purpose of equalizing t e pressure to the engine. The plane rubber diaphragms which I use in my. invention are, on the contrary not only comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, being cutfrom cheap sheet rubber, but they are easily and'quickl y applied tothe cylinder or chamber 11. Further, when the gas is shut ofi' from the gas bags above referred to, they collapse upon themselves,the contacting surfaces adhere more or less strongly, and then when suddenly expanded by the gas being turned on. the adhering surfaces are ripped apart with an abruptness which always causes injury, and soon brings about weakness and even destruction. dent that' the tarry matter carried by the gas in suspension will be deposited withespecial thickness upon the lower surfaces of the said gas bag, and soon deteriorate and weaken the same. In my construction, that shown in Fig. 1, the rubber diaphragm composes the roof of the pressure equalizer, and the indestructible cast iron the floor thereol Conse quently, all such tarry deposits can do no damage to my invention. Moreover, a spherical rubber bag when once expanded cannot so readily yield to di'lferences in pressure as can a flat rubber diaphragm such as I employ. Hence, by using a comparatively heavy grade of rubber, a sufficiently strong resistance to pressure is given, together with a marked extent of yielding to variations in such pressure.

What I claim as my invention and for which I desire Letters Patent is as follows, to wit l. A pressure equalizer comprising a metal chamber having one side open, a sheet of rub- It is evi- Y ber covering said open side, and means delivering gas to and from said chamber.

2. A pressure equalizer comprising a metal chamber having its upper side open, a sheet of rubber covering said side, and means delivering gas to and from said chamber.

3. A pressure equalizer comprising a cast iron chamber having an open flanged side, a metal guard disposed to be bolted tightly upon said flange, and a sheet rubber diaphragm clamped at its edges between said flange and guard; said guard being provided with a pipe communicating with the atmosphere, and said chamber being adapted to have gas delivered to and from it.

4. A pressure equalizer comprising a cylindrical metal chamber constituting a section of a gas engine supply conduit,sheet rubber diaphragms forming opposite walls of said chamber, guards inclosing said diaphragm's, a pipe terminating in communication with the atmosphere, and valved tubular branches joining said pipe to the spaces between said guards and diaphragms.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of January, 1907.

FRANK E. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

W. A. LISTER, A. B. UPHAM. 

